Chapter Ninety-Four: History and the Seducer

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The rain fell steadily as the carriage departed from the nearby street. He lifted the curtain and glanced back at the grand Su family mansion amidst the rainy night. What could be seen were probably only the two lanterns still glowing beneath the side eaves; the rest was mostly the dark outline of the courtyard walls, occasionally illuminated by a faint light. Xi Junyu sighed.

"If I had known you wouldn’t listen... but..." he murmured, a smile spreading across his face. "Then let this be a warning, so you can say you were forewarned..."

Regarding the matter of the Imperial Merchants, after Ning Yi appeared, he did speak a few words. Naturally, since he wasn’t sure how much Ning Yi knew about the whole affair, his words were somewhat indirect and allusive. Regardless, the message seemed to have been conveyed. This was all he could and should do in front of Su Tan’er.

As the carriage pulled away, in the courtyard on the other side, Ning Yi was already heading with Su Tan’er and Juan’er to a small courtyard nearby where dinner awaited. Ning Yi had long suspected something about Gong Yin’s affairs but wasn’t entirely clear on the details. At that moment, he had missed the first half of their conversation and only heard Su Tan’er talk about the state’s situation, prompting him to tease her a bit.

Su Tan’er laughed, feigning annoyance, “Most of what I said just now came from your own offhand remarks last time. Now you say I’m unpatriotic... You’re not a good man either.”

“The context is different; you can’t generalize,” Ning Yi said with a grin despite the heavy rain, as Juan’er followed behind them.

After being away for a few days and returning, things felt largely unchanged. Although the feeling between him and Xiao Chan seemed somewhat different, everyone still ate and talked together at night, chatting about the recent trip to Nanting Village. After Guards Geng and Dong Zhu left, Ning Yi and Su Tan’er returned to their own small courtyard, holding umbrellas against the rain. Chan’er and Juan’er busily prepared hot water for washing, while Xing’er cleaned inside and out. Su Tan’er returned to her room and continued handling the accounts Xi Junyu had been working on before he arrived.

The torrential rain almost formed a rushing stream in the courtyard. Ning Yi stood under the eaves, watching for a while. Looking up toward the opposite side, Su Tan’er’s window was open. A female figure sat at the desk by the window, writing and calculating, just as usual. As he was about to return to his room, he saw Juan’er standing behind, carrying a small basin of hot water.

Usually, Juan’er gave off a quiet demeanor, but her relationship with Ning Yi was quite good. She smiled and said, “Master, you should sleep early tonight.”

Ning Yi thought for a moment. “Hmm?”

“When you were away, Miss always stayed up very late. She’s just settling accounts, but even Xing’er and I couldn’t persuade her.”

After speaking, she bowed her head slightly and walked away with the basin.

“Tch,” Ning Yi turned to look at the figure inside the window and raised an eyebrow. “I guess I can’t persuade her either.”

He read for a while longer that night, roughly calculating the time until midnight. The lights opposite were still burning. Ning Yi thought a moment, put down his book, blew out the lamp, and went to bed. In the room across, Su Tan’er glanced up once, still flipping through the account books, frowning slightly.

She propped her chin on her hand and looked again, her gaze drawn toward the dark room. After a moment, she turned the page and then reached out to close the ledger.

“Almost done. Time to turn in.” She thought so.

In the nearby maid’s quarters, Juan’er, dressed in light clothing, leaned out of the window, glanced at Ning Yi’s window across the way, then turned to look at Su Tan’er’s window. She leaned on the windowsill and sighed softly, “Master is really impressive...”

After a final rustling sound, the courtyard fell silent, leaving only the sound of the heavy rain continuing…

That same night, thousands of miles away in the capital of the Wu dynasty, Dongjing, not a single cloud obscured the sky. The night was clear and bright; a waxing crescent moon cast a cold, jade-like glow, and the stars dotted the sky, forming a vast Milky Way like a jade ribbon. The city beneath the night was still bustling: markets, brothels, and countless mansions all brightly lit. The busiest imperial street stretched all the way to the main palace gate, Xuande Gate. From here, looking out, the broad avenue was awash in light, and the towering imperial city was also enveloped in illumination.

Though the palace gates were closed, this nightly spectacle was a familiar sight. Few knew that a highly secretive and major event was quietly unfolding within the palace that very night.

At the Secretariat Gate, some of the most influential ministers gathered. Li Gang, Tong Guan, Wu Min, Tang Ke, Geng Nanzhong, Zhang Bangchang, Qin Hui, Gao Qiu, Zhou Yi... Of course, their ranks varied, and they had their own factions. At this moment, they were on a break from a secret and weighty discussion, gathering in twos and threes, drinking tea and exchanging whispers. Though their voices were low, their hearts burned with excitement.

“The Liao people recently sent a letter demanding a renewed discussion about the annual tribute, even willing to forgo it, pleading for the Wu dynasty to send troops and jointly attack the Jin. I suppose your side has played this card as well?”

“There’s truth to that. The Liao envoy asked me to say some kind words during court and brought many gifts, including a famous incense burner, the rest... well, just a few tokens.”

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“The Liao are desperate. It’s not easy to see them so anxious.”

“When the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold. I still think we shouldn’t send troops. The Jurchens hold the upper hand now. If Liao falls, who knows if we’ll be next?”

“That’s alarmist talk. The Jurchens are too few. Even if Liao is destroyed, their entire army probably numbers no more than 100,000, and they must maintain their own stability. How could they send troops thousands of miles to attack the Wu dynasty?”

“Zhong Shidao shares this view. He says we shouldn’t attack Jin while allied with Liao. This time, the plan is to attack Jin and Liao together since Liao has been our brotherly state for a century. Jin is a land of wolves and tigers. Also, there’s Deng Xunwu…”

“Nonsense. ‘Ally far, attack near’ has always been the principle. How can one ‘ally near, attack far’? The recovery of Yanyun is imminent—hundreds of thousands strong. If successful, we will all be remembered in history...”

“Zhong Shidao is truly confused...”

“The fate of Liao is sealed. We must act according to heaven’s will... The Wu dynasty will rise.”

“Too bad Minister Tong left the capital recently...”

“A mere eunuch...”

“Quiet! Lower your voice!”

The murmur of discussion persisted. Regardless, the proposal for a joint attack on Jin and Liao, initially pushed publicly by Tong Guan, had passed its early stages and moved into detailed negotiations.

The real groundwork had perhaps been laid seven years ago in the Blackwater Alliance, especially four years prior when Liao’s Emperor Tianqu personally led 700,000 troops against Jin but was nearly wiped out by 20,000 soldiers under Wanyan Aguda at Hubudagang. Since then, calls for a joint attack on Jin and Liao had grown loud domestically. Though some argued that the Wu dynasty should not participate or should only attack Jin, figures like the northwestern general Zhong Shidao opposed it.

Even the Privy Councilor Deng Xunwu advised, “What nonsense—‘ally weak, attack strong.’ I believe we should support the weak and suppress the strong. Our country’s military is weak, the treasury is empty, and the people exhausted—everyone knows this, but no one dares to say it. I don’t understand: is it better to neighbor the strong Jin or the weak Liao?” The King of Goryeo secretly sent word, “Liao is our brotherly state; maintaining them secures our borders. Jin is a land of wolves and tigers; we cannot ally with them.”

Of course, nowadays, such views were held only by a minority. Since Shi Jingtang lost the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun over two hundred years ago, the temptation to reclaim Yanyun was irresistible to any emperor.

Though the Liao, sensing danger, had begun to seek Wu’s help, even willing to cancel the tribute to urge alliance against Jin, the Wu dynasty had been sending envoys to the Jin by sea for years. This time, the Jin sent several envoys, finally receiving a relatively definite reply. Talks had advanced to negotiating terms, with plans to send representatives to meet Wanyan Aguda in person. The Jin envoys here merely expressed agreement in principle, lacking authority to finalize details.

At a tavern near the imperial street inside the palace, two Jin envoys were drinking. One appeared to be a man in his early forties, the other a young man in his twenties. Both bore the fierce spirit characteristic of the Jurchens. The elder looked outside at the lively street with a complicated gaze. They seemed to be mere attendants without status and had not entered the palace. Their conversation, however, held unusual meaning.

“Since Lord Gushen is here, why not appear openly and sign the agreement early? Then, when Wu sends troops north, those Khitan dogs will be pinned down, and we can lighten our own burden.”

If anyone truly familiar with Jin’s affairs heard the title “Lord Gushen,” they would be startled. Gushen, also known as Wanyan Xiyin, was the chief strategist and closest adviser to Wanyan Aguda, involved in many major decisions since the rebellion against Liao began. Not only was he a brilliant military mind but also a renowned Jurchen scholar. Several years ago, when Aguda declared himself emperor, lacking a written script for the Jurchens, he created a written language modeled on Han calligraphy, which had begun to be implemented throughout Jin.

Now, he gazed at the lights outside and shook his head.

“Although we considered Wu’s aid from the start of our uprising, this request came first from Wu. Since Wu seeks us, we must not appear too eager. I came to the Central Plains just to see the splendor of Wu, the wind and customs of Dongjing... What I see now confirms this is no wasted journey. Look at Dongjing—it surpasses even the five capitals of Liao.”

“Melinye thinks it’s too extravagant, soft without any fierceness. Lord Gushen, some among us say Wu is nothing but luxury and has no real merit. Having been oppressed by Liao for a century with no achievements, even if we allied with them, it would be of little benefit. It would only draw some attention, but they are ultimately dispensable. Without them, our Jurchen warriors could take Liao alone; this alliance only divides the spoils.”

“Do not be arrogant,” Wanyan Xiyin frowned. “Wu sits in the Central Plains, vast and rich. Before the Jurchens appeared, the Han people thrived here for thousands of years. Though they seem oppressed by Liao, if they were truly weak, Liao would have swallowed them long ago. How could they have developed to this level?”

He shook his head, still uncertain in daylight. “I have spent years studying Han culture and language. The deeper I delve, the more I admire its profound foundation. Melinye, the young man you mentioned, and the ministers of the two countries, when speaking of Wu, also hold it in respect. The Central Plains kingdom must not be underestimated. If we join hands to destroy Liao, with borders touching, they could become our enemy. How could we show them contempt?”

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Having said this, his gaze returned to the bustling night scene outside. The young Melinye lowered his head, lost in thought. No one else might change his views, but Lord Gushen was different—his exceptional courage, military skill, and wisdom meant his words carried weight.

Thinking so, Melinye also looked outside, pondering just how formidable these Han people truly were.

Perhaps one day... they would meet on the battlefield.

He thought so.

This night in Kaifeng, years later, might be remembered as a notable moment in history. Of course, this was only a small episode amidst many events to come. Everyone was doing what they believed to be right.

In the southeast of the Wu dynasty, Fang La and other rebels’ influence was spreading. General Tong Guan, while advocating the joint Jin-Liao campaign, planned to first crush these peasants with overwhelming force before marching north. The emperor awaited the recovery of Yanyun and restoration of the land, to then focus on diligent governance. Meanwhile, Wanyan Xiyin in Bianliang and Wanyan Aguda at the Liao front both considered the implications of Wu’s northern expedition and the future balance of power. The Jurchens’ population and army were too small. After conquering Liao, how would they maintain balance with Wu to avoid being swallowed themselves?

Of course, Ning Yi knew none of this.

He was asleep, and upon waking the next morning saw the rain had stopped. As usual, he went for a run. During the run, he practiced internal energy breathing techniques taught by Instructor Lu Hong. Eventually, he arrived at Nie Yunzhu’s small building, where they shared tea and conversation. After several days apart, they exchanged pleasantries and sat quietly for a while. Nie Yunzhu pondered how to tell him she had met Qin Lao, who might become her foster father. As Ning Yi poured himself tea, a hand holding a cup reached from behind.

“Hey, pour me a cup too.”

The woman’s hand was fair and delicate. Ning Yi paused slightly, poured the tea, then turned to see a girl dressed in what seemed to be Nie Yunzhu’s clothes sitting two steps up behind him. She blew on her tea, then slowly sipped.

They must have already met. Nie Yunzhu looked back, slightly surprised, unsure if she should introduce her. After a moment, Yuan Jin’er set down her cup, puckered her lips, and noticing Ning Yi still watching her, pouted and leaned back, “Why are you staring at me like that?”

Ning Yi blinked, nodded, then turned his face away to drink tea, avoiding her gaze. After a while, he shrugged and said, “Yesterday I saw a woman climbing out of the river in the heavy rain, soaked through—really soaked. Probably not you.”

His tone was casual. Yuan Jin’er’s eyes widened instantly. Nie Yunzhu said softly, “Hmm?” and glanced at her. She remembered how Yuan Jin’er came in, how she was sleepy when she was taken to bathe, and how she had dried her to prevent catching a cold.

Yuan Jin’er blinked and exchanged looks with Nie Yunzhu. “Of course it wasn’t me!” Then she pulled up her skirt and ran off. Nie Yunzhu, slightly taller and with a longer skirt, almost tripped inside.

Nie Yunzhu smiled wryly and looked back at Ning Yi, who was still calmly drinking tea, then glanced at Yuan Jin’er again...

“Why do you keep staring at me? She said it wasn’t her!”

“…Such a flirt.”

Nie Yunzhu picked up her cup and turned her face away...